The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-04
LIFE IN BRAZILIAN FORESTS.
what New Yorker Saw While Bug
and Bird Hunting In South America
A Hunters Paradise.

Clarence II. Rikcr. of South Orange,
a member of the American Ornitholo-
gcal society, has just returned, says
The New York Null and Express. from
two months of bug and bird hunt ng in
the forests of Brazil "My wife and |. "
said Mr.. Riker to reporter, went by
steamer from here to Para at the mouth
of the Amazon. There we changed to
smaller steamboat, that took us up
the river five hundred miles to
Santarem. There we took canoes and
were padded by Indian boys through
miles of narrow channels that W, nd in
and out through a vast region OF Hood
ed forest After we had gone rs far rs
we could in canoes an OK cart was
backed hub deep into the water, and
we transferred ourselves and baggage
to it. We then rode along woll-beaten
forest paths, extending for miles
through magnificent timber. The dense
foliage made perfect shade, and the
paths were as hard rs our roads.
"When we arrived at the plantation
which we had decided to make our
headquarters, we fourd u comfortable
house with concrete walls, tiled roof,
and hammock beds. The planters
have fowls, swine, and cattle, and raise
the principal vegetables and fruits that
we have. The seeds of the palm tree
are made into various nourishing dishes.
One of the staple articles of food is IL
fish called prarucu. 1t is dried for
market and resembles Goldfish. The
natives live almost entirely on bananas
and farinha, coarse meal made from
the mandioca root. Many of the plant
ers raise sugar-cane, and from it make
whisky to supply to the rubber gather
ers. The fermented juice of the palm
is another drink used by the natives,
and delicious wine is made from q
fruit called caju, and also from juice
extracted from the pulp surrounding
the cocoa bean. This drink is univer-
sally liked by foreigners, but for the
others one must acquire the taste.
There are very few mosquitoes, but
there are some things worse. The
mocoene, an almost microscopic insect.
clings to the flesh, and if not removed
by rum or lemon juice, causes severe
irritation. Large vampire bats ofte n
fly in ones face at night They are
four times the size of our bats. Many
natives bear scars from their teeth.
'Tarantulas were frequently seen on
the veranda. and sometimes in the
house. Their bite is not considered
deadly, but the minute hairs with
which their barb is covered are poison
Gus. and cause terrible irritation. If
we left the doors Of the house open at
night large toads weighing pound
and half apiece would hop in. One
night my wife was awakened by hear.
ing some animal moving in the room.
We could see nothing, but from the
sound we were sure that it must be q
tiger or at least a wildcat On strk-
ing light it turned out to be possum.
"Allgators were plentiful in the
brook near the house, and deadly
snake called the siracucu is frequently
found crouching in the paths of the
forest. We captured Demonstration
twenty two feet long. Rattlesnakcs are
numerous on the pampas or open
plains.
'Leaving my wife at the plantation
made excursions into the forest in
search of birds and insects. l general
" went with three or four other Amer
leans and several Indian guides. AT
night the Indians would make a
matched house out of palm LEAVES.
When thirsty we would cut the root OF
the tapereba, which is followed and
contains nearly pint of water. Game
was plenty. There were wild hogs,
tapirs, monkeys. wild turkeys, pecca-
ries. and great variety of birds. We
frequently saw the track of jaguar'
near our hut. but did not meet any o.
them. TO obtain some rare specimens
of birds we penetrated far into the
depth Of the forest. | measured one
palm leaf and found it to be forty FEEL
in length. There were rosewood, ma
hogany, and many woods not founo
elsewhere. In the flooded districts,
saw sloths hanging upside down and
feeding on the leaves of the trees. Nj
merous butterflies, brightly colored, and
birds with brilliant plumage abound.
| And ON tho hanks of the rivers at ever